Practice for IELTS Writing Task 2 : Studying Abroad

It is true that at present students find more opportunity to do a university degree in foreign countries than students did in the past. There are both several benefits and drawbacks of studying abroad.

Studying abroad can be beneficial to students in various ways. Firstly, staying away from their hometown can make students a lot more independent. For example, at the beginning, they may feel anxious to do all things by themselves in unfamiliar surroundings such as using different public transport, buying food in another language, and seeking a place to stay. When time passes, they will be accustomed to doing things on their own. Secondly, being in foreign country can open up new horizon for students because they can interact with foreigners, giving them insights into things that they may not have heard or known about. Thirdly, students can improve their foreign languages. They definitely have a chance to talk to native speakers, take a lessons and do everything in another language. It is completely sure that their language skills will be better than they were in their own country.

On the other hand, this development can be extremely negative. To begin with, students are likely to get desperately homesick as they do not see their family for a considerable time. Furthermore, the costs of living in other countries are higher, in developed countries in particular. For example, housing, bills, health care, and education in European countries are more expensive compared to in Thailand. Therefore, money should be spent wisely.

In conclusion, while there are many compelling reasons to study aboard, students inevitably experience disadvantages. Careful consideration should be given before going abroad.